Jasper lookout foes employ wild logic

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Of all the ludicrous things I hear in any given week, there are some doozies that really stand out as howlers.

You know, like when the left claims Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has consistently ramped up spending in six years in power, is going to somehow rip the social safety net out from under all of us.

Or when provincial Tories say they’re going to end our dependence on resource revenues while simultaneously basing a budget on pie-in-the-sky oil and gas prices.

But what really has had me shaking my head low these many weeks is as follows: “The feds are allowing an American-led privatization of our national parks.”

You heard that right.

Our pristine national park is under attack from outside interests, and when they’re through it will be a Disney-fied amusement park that bears no resemblance to what sits there right now.

Or so the ridiculous argument goes.

Parks Canada has, in recent years, been looking at new ways of attracting people through the gates at our natural wildlife attractions.

And officials have been looking to the private sector to aid in that process.

Enter Brewster Canada, a company that has been active in national parks since Canada was barely a country, which wants to construct Glacier Discovery Walk, a 400-metre walkway and interpretive centre overlooking Sunwapta Valley, off Hwy. 93.

Despite online petitions and a letter campaign, Environment Minister Peter Kent rightly gave the project approval last week, although it still needs further assessments and approvals.

I get, and appreciate, that people are protective of our parks. We’ve been blessed with great resources in Jasper, as well as Banff, but the protectionism borders on the perverse when you look at the whole thing on face value.

First, we’re talking about a 400-metre, glass-floored walkway off of a roadside turnout in a national park spanning 10,000 sq. km.

Minuscule.

Nor is this the American invasion of our parks, as the protesters would like people to believe. Brewster Canada has been active in the park for years, and relies on the protected pristine wilderness as much as anyone.

It’s what they claim to offer to customers, a unique parks experience, and arguably the company’s operation helps bring people through the gates and help bring revenue to the park.

It’s not in Brewster’s interest to encroach or over-reach.

Obviously, for some parks it’s easier than others, and despite a millions who go every year, tourism is integral to the survival of parks like Jasper, Banff and Waterton.

The feds have a clearly defined duty to ensure the setting is protected, but as long as they’re holding up their end of the deal, private operations should be encouraged.

Plain and simple, without private sector involvement in Alberta’s national parks, not as many people would take the time to enjoy them.

And while some people may argue that’s the point of the protest, it’s misguided at the least.

Not everyone is game for a complete backcountry wilderness experience.

Some people want a luxurious stay in a high-end hotel.

Some people want a guided tour.

Some people want to ski.

And some want something different, like a ride on a glacier or view from above the valley floor.

The sad part here is that it’s pretty easy to get 600,000 people to blindly sign a petition that says “stop the privatization of Jasper,” even when it doesn’t begin to approach the truth.

When you get past the misinformation, it’s not as dire as people make it out to be, and could well turn out to be a tourism boon, both for Brewster and for Jasper.